In 2013, the state Department of Children and Families sought to take custody of an infant who was born addicted to opiates and whose mother, according to police records, had a record of substance abuse.

The move was blocked by an unknown Family Court judge.

Eight weeks later, the baby was dead from causes that have yet to be determined.

There is no public accountability for the judge who made the call against the DCF because, as the Free Press reported, “the custodial issue was aired at a closed Family Court hearing in Burlington.”

That means the public has no access to any of the court records from the case, including the name of the judge who decided against allowing DCF to take custody of the child.

Meanwhile, the deaths earlier this year of two other infants who were at one time involved with the department have produced public outrage.

The deaths of Dezirae Sheldon, 2, of Poultney and Peighton Geraw, 14 months, of Winooski have led to calls for the dismissal of DCF Commissioner David Yacovone as well as Doug Racine, the secretary of Human Services, the department’s parent agency.

The Shumlin administration has promised increased training and staffing for the state department charged with looking out for the welfare of children.

The Legislature has convened public hearings around the state, where people have testified about their experience with the department charged with looking out for the welfare of children.

Judge Linda Levitt, the presiding Family Court judge in Burlington at the time of the 2013 decision, says she has no recollection of the case.

“It’s surprising that conditional custody was given to the mother,” Levitt told the Free Press. “We practically always agree with DCF. We’re not there, and DCF is sort of the court’s eyes and ears.”

Without knowing even the name of the judge, there is no sure way for the public to know that the decision will be thoroughly vetted. Once again, public accountability suffers because government officials are shielded from outside scrutiny.

The goal of the legislative hearing is to “investigate and evaluate Vermont’s current system of child protection for the purpose of protecting children from abuse and neglect.”

The courts must be held to the same standard of transparency and accountability as any other part of government, especially with the welfare and safety of Vermont’s children at stake.

The state must find a way to permit the public to know how Family Court judges rule that still protects the identity of children at risk. Otherwise, all we have to rely upon is the memory of a presiding judge who can only offer, “I don’t remember.”

Join the conversation online at BurlingtonFreePress.com or send a letter to the editor to letters@freepressmedia.com. Contact Aki Soga at asoga@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @asoga.